Spirit-level



(No Model) A. VOLSWINKLER. SPIRIT LEVEL.

No. 600,756 PatentedsMarpw. 18978.

ywa'ntoz W iiiiiiiiii UNlTF ADALBERT VOLSWINKLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA.

SPIRIT-LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,756, dated March15, 1898.

Application filed August 3, 1 8 9 '7.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADALBERT VoLswINK- LER, of San Francisco, in thecounty of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Spirit-Levels and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in spiritlevels, the object of the samebeing to provide a device of this character which is not onlyserviceable in determining the level of perpendicular and planesurfaces, but which will also accurately register the inclination of asurface, being therefore particularly useful in ascertaining the properfall to be given to sewers, and also to give the proper inclination tobrace-beamsin building bridges,&c.

To the above ends and to such others as the invention may appertain thesame consists in a spirit-level presenting a circular tube having liquidtherein to form a bubble, the said tube being applied to a beam having astraight edge, as hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is an elevation of a spirit-level constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the casting which is used to support the tube in place.

In carrying out my invention I apply the same to a beam 1, having astraight edge, and in the side of this beam form a recess or circulargroove to receive the essential parts of the invention.

2 designates a circular semicylindrical casting, the edges of which areprovided with outwardly-projecting flanges a a, by which thecoveringplates are secured thereto. The casting forms a channel in whichis seated a circular glass tube 3, being properly seated and held inplace by plaster-of-paris or other cement. Secured to the outer flangeof the casting is an annular plate 4:, the inner edge of which extendsinto the channel to bear against the glass tube, while its outer endprojects so as to engage the beam 1 around the edges of the recessformed thereon. A disk or circular plate 5 is secured to the innerSerial No. 646,973. (No model.)

flange of the casting, the edge of the same bearing against the innerside of the glass tube, and this disk or plate may contain printedmatter, as the stamp of the manufacturer or directions for setting thesaid devices into the beam 1 when said devices are sold separately. Thecircular tube is continuous, and before being sealed is filled with aliquid sufficiently to present a bubble of the desired size. When thedevice is placed upon the beam, the annular plate is secured thereto byordinary wood-screws. This annular plate is provided around its inneredge with marks or degrees, as shown, the zero-mark being properlyarranged with respect to the straight edge, being at a true right anglethereto.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a spirit-level constructedin accordance with my invention can be used for a number of purposes towhich the ordinary spirit-level is not well adapted, the principalapplication of the invention being in connection with building sewerswhere the proper fall can be readily and quickly ascertained, as anyinclination of the beam will cause the bubble to appear at the markindicating the extent of the inclination. It is also obvious that thedevice could be effectually used in building bridges or other structuresto give the proper inclination to the brace-beams.

It will be understood, of course, that instead of letting the devicesinto the side of a beam having a straight edge they could be formed in acylinder or casing to provide for applying the same to a straight edgeor beam.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a spirit-level, the combination, with an annular glass tube, of anannular channeled metallic casing of corresponding radius to the tube,said casing being open at the top, an annular closure of a portion ofthe top of the casing, overhanging the glass tube, the casing beingsuspended from the closure, and a straight edge on which said closure issuitably supported, said closure being suitably graduated or divided,substantially as described.

2. In a spirit-level, the combination, with an annular glass tube, of anannular channeled metallic casing of corresponding radius to the tube,said casing being open at the top, an annular closure of a portion ofthe top of the casing overhanging the outer portion of the glass tube,.a circular closure overhanging the inner portion thereof, one .of saidclosures being suitably graduated or divided, one of said closures beingsecured to the straight edge, and the casing being suspended from thelatter closure and supporting the other closure, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a spirit-level, the combination, With a straight edge having inone of its sides a recess, of an annular glass tube, an annularchanneled metallic casing of corresponding radius to the tube andcontaining said tube, said casing being open at the top, an annularclosure of a portion of the top of the casing,

said closure being plane and supported on and substantially flush withthe side of the straight edge around the recess, and the casing beingsecured to and suspended from said closure, and a circular closureoverhanging the inner side oi the glass tube, and supported on thecasing, one of said closures being suitably graduated or marked,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ADALBERT VOLSWINKLER.

Witnesses:

ANTON SCHAFFER, THOMAS COSTELLO.

